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State of Origin: Brad Fittler amazed by James Maloney's 'incredible weapon'

He gave him ‘a few heart attacks’ but NSW coach Brad Fittler marveled at ‘incredible weapon’ James Maloney’s ability to forget his mistakes in the Blues’ 22-12 victory over Queensland in Origin I at the MCG.

He gave him ‘a few heart attacks’ but NSW coach Brad Fittler
marveled at ‘incredible weapon’ James Maloney’s ability to forget
his mistakes in the Blues’ 22-12 victory over Queensland in Origin
I at the MCG.

Maloney threw the intercept that led to a Valentine Holmes try
in the first half and came up with a costly forward pass to put the
Blues on the back foot early in the second stanza.

But he also had a hand in two of his side’s tries and steered
them home with his game management late in the contest.

Fittler, himself a different cat, declared Maloney a
one-of-a-kind player after his rocks and diamonds effort in Game
1.

“James Maloney, although he gave me a few heart attacks, he was
the one that his mindset never changed, regardless of score and
time,” Fittler said at his post-match press conference.

The coach, who publicly criticised Maloney’s defence before
naming his side for the series opener, added of the five-eighth’s
ability to forget his howlers: “I don’t think many people have it
actually, it’s quite a unique mindset that Jimmy’s got, I think
he’s had it his whole life.

“I had a great conversation with Craig Bellamy talking about the
time Jimmy was down in Melbourne and how he just seems to get on
with things quite easily.

“So it’s an incredible weapon, especially when you get behind in
a big game with a lot of rookies in the team, just to get on with
the game … it was pretty impressive.”

Fittler singled out rookies Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic
for praise after the match but declared Maloney and the Blues’
other experienced men were the difference between the two
teams.